The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-06-02
bearer, to account for having received
a letter from your nearly frantic

OF That Gay! In the evening sue Veu-
tured to ask the landlady to inquire
how Mr.. Browne was. mo better,
was the alarming reply.
Maude passed a sleepless night. In
the morning she received a second note
from her dear Jack, even more despair
ING in its tone than the former one.
Fate is against u.s." he wrote. II
feel us if shall never be able to call
you mine"
In the middle of the day she again
sent to inquire for her lover, and was
overjoyed when she heard he was much
better and was even thinking of getting
up, his recovery bidding fair to be as
sudden rs his seizure.
That evening Major Henderson re-
turned. Hardly had he knocked at the
door when Mr.. Browne emerged from
the opposite cottage.
What news, sirp" asked the SYM
pathetic Mr.. Browne.
''The worst possible" replied the
major, throwing himself into an easy
chair and covering his face with his
hands. THAT poor girl yonder is a
beggar, and l have but hundred a
year left"
Maude looked from one to the other
in utter bewilderment, and then cross
ed over to her uncle. trying to COM
fort him and gain some explanation at
the same time.
Il feel that this is no scene for a
stranger to Witness" sad MIR. Browne.
ST, YOU have my deepest sympathy,
and l am sure that ut the present
moment can show it in no better way
than by withdrawing.
Maude followed her lover to the door,
She was much distressed on her uncle S
account. but did not fully realize her
own loss of fortune.
care you really better, dear Jack?"
she asked. anXiously.
"Yes, thank you. Quite cured. Good
bye" and he was gone.
That her lovers leave-taking was a
little abrupt did strike Maude; she was,
however, far too confused by the turn
affairs had taken to attach much impOr-
lance to the first circumstance. When
she turned to her uncle he seemed
wonderfully better. and at supper he
talked quite cheerfully of their future.
Maude passed another sleepless night.
She did Est SO much mind the terrible
loss she had sustained on her own ac-
count, but she was bitterly disappoint-
ed that she could not do all that she
had promised for her dear Jack. She
determined, however, to be the most
loving and economical wife possible.
At all events, her uncle would not be
able to accuse Jack of being mercenary
now, and there was much comfort in
that reflection. Perhaps, after all, they
would be able to have a proper we'd
ding, only, of course, it would have to
be very quiet one. How much better
that would be than running away and
deceiving her uncle, who had always
been so kind to her!
When she came down to breakfast
the next morning she was looking pale
and little worn, after her two sleep
less nights. The major, however,
seemed to have succeeded in throwing
off his grief in quite wonderful man.
ner and was in his usual spirits.
'Have you heard how Mr.. Browne is
this morning?' Maude ventured to
ask the landlady's daughter.
"Whv, miss he paid up for the week
and went off by the mail-train last
night, declaring he was sure the place
didn't suit him"
Poor Maude! The blow did indeed
fall on her with crushing force,
"Dear me, rather sudden! We shall
miss the old gentleman-eh, Miss
Maude?" said the major, as soon as the
uncle and niece were left together. He
laid slight stress on the adjective, and
there was suspicion of fun in his eyes.
1t was, however. no laughing matter to
Maude; she, poor girl, unable longer to
act her part, burst into an uncontroll-
able fit of weeping.
''Poor child, poor child!' said the
major. compassionately; cts sharp
lesson for you to learn. But it is bet.
ter to bear little pain now than tc
suffer for the remainder of your life,
as would most probably have been
your case if had not paid that scoun-
drel out of his own coin"
The threatened loss of fortune was
all fabrication, Major Henderson hav-
ing gone no nearer to London than the
top room in the Honey suckle Cottage.
The truth was the major had d:scov-
cred what was going on, when he had
come upon the lovers so unexpectedly.
He then devised the scheme, which he
afterward carried out so successfully,
in order to test the sincerity of Lieut..
Mapleson's attachment to Maude.
Major Henderson had, of course
been obliged to take the lanlady into
his confidence, and she, fully entering
into the spirit of the thing, had sug-
gested the majors occupying the tor
room in her cottage, whence he coulC
watch Mr.. Brownies movements. And
so Major Henderson had merely walked
to the station, portmanteau in hand
and, returning. had entered Honey
suckle Cottage by the back way.
Maude's grief and humiliation were sc
her uncle, thinking she would not care to
stay where her story was known
wisely suggested returning home thu
following day.
I'VE can give garden-party or some
thing of that kind in honor Of you
twenty-first birthday. 1t will be few
, days after the event, but that won
matter. l would give good deal tt
see that young fortune-hunter' fac'
, when he finds out how he has beer
/ duped. There's no fear of his title
tattling about it, though. for his owl
sake, so the story won't get all owe
the town. Isuppose. my dear" adde,
, Major Henderson, rather anxiously
/ s'you'll never let him again find the
way to your kind little heart with hi
honeyed words?"
Maude drew herself up to her full
height. '.No, indeed, uncle. that neve
! will. TO use his own words, am quite
cured"
Before the year was out anothe
; su tor asked for Maude's hand. and OF
, this occasion the anxious pleader di'
not have any cause of Major Hender
, sons obstinacy.-' hanbers' Journal.